Archive for January 2007
Lights Out On Lighting Up? Potential Smoking Bans Considered in MN and WI
Minnesota continues its progressive agenda in guarding its citizens against the ills of smoking tobacco with the introduction of its Freedom to Breathe Act in the legislature. The Act—which has the qualified support of Governor Tim Pawlenty—would essentially ban all…
Read MoreA Long Political Half-Life: Abortion Politics in South Dakota
South Dakota’s House of Representatives appears likely to take up the issue of abortion once again in its new 2007 legislative session. The GOP-led state legislature already passed a ban in its last session, which was signed by Republican…
Read MoreKlobuchar Begins Term With Strong Statewide Support
The approval ratings are in for Minnesota junior Senator Amy Klobuchar, after only a few weeks on the job in Washington, D.C. The latest SurveyUSA poll finds 56 percent of Minnesotans approve of her job performance in the U.S….
Read MoreUpper Midwestern US Senators React to State of the Union Address
Several U.S. Senators from the Upper Midwest have released official statements in reaction to President George W. Bush’s seventh State of the Union Address from last night. Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa stated he was impressed with Bush’s overall leadership…
Read MoreCould Tom Vilsack Emerge As the Next Bill Clinton?
When Iowa ex-Governor Tom Vilsack announced his candidacy for the presidency two months ago he was immediately labeled as a ‘long shot.’ While there are some similarities to the successful long-shot bid then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton launched in…
Read MoreAddresses by Upper Midwest Governors Remarkably Similar
Three gubernatorial addresses conducted this month across the Upper Midwest have been remarkably similar with regards to the main issues raised in the speeches. Republican Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s State of the State address delivered last week focused on four…
Read MorePresidential Nominees Likely To Be Determined By ‘The Unknown’
As politicians officially and unofficially begin their campaigns for the presidency in 2008, speculation about the strengths and weaknesses of each potential candidate will naturally be thoroughly debated in the media. Frequent questions already being posed by pundits include:…
Read MoreDivided Government in Minnesota: New Smart Politics Commentary at TPT
The latest Smart Politics commentary for Twin Cities Public Television’s Almanac: At The Capitol website is now online, discussing divided government in Minnesota. The essay suggests that high expectations for productive, low-conflict legislative sessions in Minnesota are unreasonable in a…
Read MoreUnified Democratic Party Control a Rarity in Iowa Politics
When Democrats took control of the Iowa House last November, it marked a rarity in Iowa politics that had not occurred in more than 40 years: concurrent Democratic control of the Governor’s office, Senate, and House. The last time…
Read MoreUpper Midwestern Republican Senators Weigh in on Bush Iraq Plan
Two more Upper Midwestern U.S. Senators—both Republicans—have released statements in response to President Bush’s new plan outlined in a national address earlier this week. South Dakota junior senator John Thune acknowledged the need for change in Iraq, stated winning in…
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